Reader Challenge: The Best of the Interwebs

Oh Audience at Home: we know there are at least a few people out there reading these words. Confess your presence! We want only one thing from you: Comment and share videos, blogs, hilariously bad fan art. What's the BEST THING you've found in this crazy online world?

H: See, sometimes the Internet is a big lonely place. But sometimes it is like a big vending machine where you hit E5 for a Snickers bar and then the machine just goes crazy and you end up getting like ten dollars of junk food. Sometimes you go online to, say, check email, and you end up staring at this http://toki-woki.net/p/scroll-clock/ for an hour because it was in someone's Facebook status.

A: Or say you want to see how well your blog is doing according to google. So you google, in our case, "Adrienne and Hannah." AND BEHOLD! Not only are we really famous bloggers, but we're also HARRY POTTER'S CHILDREN. (Discover our real past) We got to recollect our first years with our dad, Harry, on Christmas morning. What rascals we were! To "punish" us, Harry lovingly sent us down the stairs by wingardrium leviosa-ing us! "Both Hannah and Adrienne flew up into the air laughing." What fun that must have been for us.

H: And clearly that childhood had quite an impact on our mental/emotional state, because we grew up to author ...

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/adrienne-basso/highland-vampire.htm

A: We had a magical life, and still do. While the world is mesmerized by Twilight, we take it to the next level. No subtle teen romance, but check out our blatantly romance novelesque covers! No British accents here, we got Scottish! HIS KISS COULD MEAN FOREVER!

H: Since we're doing Internet Shout Outs, we should also name drop the blog we started following. You want to explain your personal connection with this topic?

A: I wish my personal connection was actually being involved in one of these, but alas, it's not. I just have a fascination with the idea of missed connection ads.

H: Soooo Adrienne got them started up in our student newspaper and they are GREAT. Plus I totally got to illustrate last week's. Life goal: check!

A: I got the idea after we found this site: http://nygirlofmydreams.com/ and they're a huge hit in major cities. The blog we're following is an artist who picks her favorite NYC missed connections and paints them. Check it out! http://missedconnectionsny.blogspot.com/

H: So now that we've given you a bunch of things to procrastinate with ... we want your favorites. Send us LINKS!

A: Or send other people OUR link ... or you can just follow us. So we feel cool.

H: First person to comment who we don't actually know in real life .... we'll write a post all about you. So comment!

"Flashforward" vs. "V" NO CONTEST

H: At what moment did you know, for sure, that Flash Forward had jumped the shark?

A: It was the Halloween episode, when everyone completely overreacted about Commodore Norrington being at the house. The house where, in "the future" he would be chillin' on the couch with his new lover, aka, Mark Benford's wife!

H: The Halloween episode pushed me over the edge too, except for me it was the combination of "a Halloween costume episode, seriously?!" and the weird way they use music at the worst times. Every time the FBI guys pull out weapons, it's like OMGYoutube!Fanvid!!!1!

A: Agreed. Also, that weird Blue Hand torturing place? What?! That was so dumb. Why, if you know you're going to die, would you ever go to a club and get tortured? Haven't the writers ever been asked "If you were given one year to live, what would you do?" Clearly no one would say "Join a club with all the other people who have been diagnosed the same way and torture each other." They would go skydiving or swim with dolphins or something. Geeze.

H: If you were given a year to live, what WOULD you do? Besides a re-do of our Fall Fest weekend.

A: Hmmm, I've actually got to. think about this. I think I would go and visit m I knew. No (I HATE yoUR KEYBOARD!!!!!!!) I would visit everyone I knew. No matter where they live. And then I would go home and spend the rest of the time with my family. That, or become a motivational speaker.

H: So you would go find, like, kids from your third grade class? That's how you would spend your time?

A: Oh PUHlease. Just family and friends. What about you?

H: I would take one week of just writing letters and drinking sugary coffee. And then I would blow all my money on a crazy vacation with family and friends. And right before I knew I was going to die, I would yell something like, "And if I'm wrong, then may God strike me dead!!" just to freak everyone out.

A: Epic, man. I totally sound like a stoner. Speaking of which, let's return to Flash Forward vs. V.

H: Here's the nail in the Flash Forward coffin, and I know you'll agree: Dominic Monaghan. I never thought I'd say that; I love the guy. But he is the embodiment of my biggest problem with the show: super cliche. I feel like the writers are just assigning all their favorite movies to each episode. We had a chase through a doll factory. A trip to Germany to talk to a Nazi. And now they want to settle their problems with, what else, a poker game?!?

A: We're assuming that in the next episode, they will either be trying to find someone in a club where lights are flashing and people are dancing and they have to weave through crowds of people, OR crawling through ventilation shafts. And I was going to say a car chase scene, but that happened in the first episode.

H: Also, a scene where a psychopath has hidden bombs all over the city and Mark has to use scraps from his all-encompassing flash forward to find them.

A: Speaking of things being hidden all over a city ... V has me thinking everyone is an alien.

H: I know. I really wasn't expecting to like the show, but I'm intrigued. Great characters.

A: Which is the first thing we said we didn't like about Flash Forward: the characters. I still couldn't care less about them and we just had to Google Mark's name to find out what it was for this post. He's the main character. Meanwhile, by the end of the pilot, I was pretty invested in the V cast. (Not the phone!)

H: I'm also just a sap for anything with Alan Tudyk.

A: Yeah, what a great actor. I first noticed him in A Knight's Tale as a great side character—

H: With great hair.

A: And then again in the TV series Firefly. By his placement in the first episode of V, we're hoping he'll be a main character instead of his usual side role.

H: Yes, just waiting for the Firefly/V crossover fan art to start popping up.

A: You should start that off.

H: You know I can't use photoshop—

A: Audience at home, this is the conversation that really just took place:

A: We could talk about Anna being in Firefly.

H: What? Who is she?

A: She's Inara.

H: ("LOST moment" face)

H: I COMPLETELY didn't recognize her. Wow. I can't believe I didn't see that. I guess she has short hair, and I had just portioned 100 percent of my TV-crossover-alert attention on the whole Wash/Juliet thing.

A: To wrap things up, I actually look forward to watching V in the future and finding out who the aliens are, which ones are good and bad, and how a priest is going to end up dating the main-character-girl.

H: Aaaaaand we don't know anyone's names on this show either. We're going to have to work on that.

Flashforward Thus Far

H: I am frustrated.

A: Pourquoi?

H: I want Flashforward to be great, and it's just ok. It's very, very, very ok.

A: Except Charlie showed up last episode! Oh wait ... I mean "Simon." I keep wanting to call him "Charlie" because of LOST, but now Charlie is that annoying little girl who can't act and holds a weirdy stuffed animal all the time.

H: At this point, I'm expecting Simon to be a good guy that they'll introduce as shady. I don't buy that he caused the blackouts. I'm guessing that the "greatest disaster in human history" that he and Commodore Norrington are responsible for was like ... an embarrassingly lame bowling party.

A: That just made me laugh out loud. I'm thinking that Simon was referring to the blackouts. But I have a feeling they're a part of some minor shady deal that they think somehow caused it, but it has nothing to do with it at all. And we'll find that out in like two months.

H: Hmm. Yeah, that's a good theory. Or maybe they were pawns in a bigger thing involving that freako from the doll factory. Wow, I don't even like saying "doll factory." I feel like that episode dipped into super-cliche. That's kind of how I feel about a lot of the FBI/hospital stuff at this point. Cliche. Am I too harsh?

A: Not really. I just have a lot of hope for this show, therefore I feel slightly bad about knocking it. Today in French class I learned that the word for "doll" is poupée. I wish the factory was called a poupée factory.

H: Now that's original. Ok, here's my basic complaint right now: I'm really intruiged by the blackout and what caused it—that's why I'll keep watching—but I don't really care about the characters yet. Because, as someone pointed out to me the other day, they introduced them with all with their problems up front (drinking, marriage will go bad, guy gets murdered, etc.) before I really ... cared.

A: Yeah! I think you just nailed it on the head. Okay, that was a lame expression. But seriously, I was trying to figure out why I don't enjoy it that much, and that's totally why! I don't care about them yet. Maybe they're trying to be new and creative by doing everything backwards! So then it's like a backwards ... flash ... forward... I don't know. But what I do know is that everyone needs to just start watching Fringe because it's way better.

H: Off the top of your head, give me your two best reasons I should watch Fringe, and we'll see if I'm convinced. Go.

A: Oh my gosh, I could think of a lot more than two. But I'll try these two: 1) One character, who is basically a modern-day mad scientist, is played by John Noble (known to us for his role as Denethor in Lord of the Rings).

2) Every week I have at least one of those "LOST moments" where I hold my head and go "NO!!! NO WAY." And that's followed by at least 10 minutes of daydreaming about theories.

H: I can't say I'm a huge fan of ol' tomato-chomping Denethor, but I miss my LOST moments. Don't have time for a new show right now, but maybe .... maybe when Flashforward finally loses me.

A: I don't think it will lose me. Half because once I start a show, I feel compelled to finish it, and half because I hate not knowing everything. Also, I think the winning-over factor was that huge mysterious tower blowing smoke in Somalia where all the crows died. Was the focus on the tower? Or on the smoke coming out of it? No idea. I might just point out that as I was writing this, Hannah said "Black smoke! LOST!!!!!!!"

H: Hey. I clearly miss it.

A: Don't we all. 93 days, folks.

Uncool Fatties?

A: Happy Monday, everyone.

H: If I could summarize how I feel about this day in one word, I would quote your current Facebook status: "bleeehhhhhhhhhhh."

A: Word. After this weekend, I'm feeling pretty apathetic about this whole going-to-school-thing. I'm ready for Thanksgiving break.

H: I'm ready for Thanksgiving break, but not necessarily Thanksgiving dinner. Considering we may or may not have consumed an average of 80,000 calories per meal this weekend.

A: Not to mention it was all fried. And then we sat around and watched movies and tv shows because of our food coma.

H: I think you should give our audience at home some context.

A: Hannah, Emily-Friend and I attended the second-largest festival in the U.S. (after Mardi Gras.) It's in Evansville, Indiana and famous for its mile stretch of food booths. We probably ate something from every booth. Including the corn-soaked-in-butter-until-you-order-it booth.

H: Favorite item: I'm going to go with my usual fave, sweet potato fries. Sweet potatoes in any form are amazing. Although the aforementioned corn wasn't bad either.

A: Favorite item: Fried cookie dough sundae. Heart attack in a bowl topped with whipped cream, ice cream, and chocolate syrup, baby. It was probably the best night ever, especially since I topped it off with fried macaroni and cheese!

H: Wow, just reading over those last two paragraphs ... it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

A: For my stomach.

H: And my wallet.

A: And that was just on Friday night! Saturday we went back for lunch, and, due to our second food coma in 24 hours, we spent the rest of the day on the couch.

H: Actually, "best of times, worst of times" kind of summarizes that whole weekend. Equilibrium, really?

A: Slightly reminiscent of The Matrix, Equilibrium involves Christian Bale in a world where emotion has been eliminated!!! Basically another 1984 type place where, by taking a shot every day, no one feels anything. Therefore there are no reasons for war, and only times of peace. Except the whole movie is about these peace-people killing people who own art.

H: Yeah, I'm going to add very reminiscent of the Matrix, except Christian Bale > Keanu Reeves. I'm also going to add that I thought it was a pretty lame movie. Although maybe I fell asleep during all the meaningful parts.

A: Like when Christian Bale kills 10 men because he wants to save a puppy?

H: Nope, I was awake for that.

A: Then ... when he breaks down and cries when he hears classical music for the first time?There's nothing more attractive then when a really manly man cries over classical music. Heart!

H: On that note, I'm proud to have introduced you to—

A: —the greatest thing since Elijah Wood when I was thirteen!!!!!

H: One of the many Adrienne quotes from the weekend, referring to some random guy: "I love him! No, wait. I use that word too freely. I love Horatio. I like everyone else." At 2 a.m. we watched the 90s BBC Horatio Hornblower series. Lots of ships, lots of blood, lots of flowy sleeves.

A: Speaking of ships, Horatio is played by dreamboat Ioan Griffudd, pronounced "Yo-ahn Griffeth." BBC always seems to discover these unknown actors that act as good as they look. Um ... I mean ... act as well ... Grammar. Blah.

H: Ah, BBC. You've given us so much. The 6-hour Pride and Prejudice marathons. Ten thousand versions of Sherlock Holmes to choose from. All the oddball comedies that we try really hard to like but don't really because we're not British enough...

A: Oh man, I love those comedies! I never get half of what they say.

H: Yeah, I remember trying to watch the British version of The Office. I swear, I wanted so badly to like it, but I couldn't get past the accents. I just wanted to be that person that says, "Yeah, I watch The Office ... oh, wait, sorry, I meant the original Office." All pretentious-like. But oh well.

A: I'm too Indie for both of The Office shows (this is where I hit that sarcasm button). I was referring to comedies like Death at a Funeral. I had to drive an hour to the Indie Art Theater for that one.

H: Wow, pretentious AND hypocritical. Like two hours ago you were recapping Vampire Diaries for me.

A: Hey, you asked what our guilty pleasures were. WRAPPING UP, Hannah wishes she was cool, and so do I.

H: And you don't have to read much of this blog to see how very far we are from our goal.

A: Well ... that's all ...

Merlin's Apprentice: A Love Story

H: So here's what happens: every so often, Adrienne and I hang out with a mutual friend, Emily. And for some reason, when it's the three of us ... we always end up having this enormous nerdfest. Why do you think that is?

A: Well, let's think of the things that we have in common: Emily and I frequently played Lord of the Rings: Trivial Pursuit last year. You also like Lord of the Rings. Emily and I also get hooked on really lame things ... and poorly made things ... like "Vampire Diaries" and "Glee." Therefore, when we saw my other housemate had a made-for-TV-movie on our shelf, we knew it was love.

H: For me, the draw came from ... the above picture, featured on the back of the DVD case. Just the incredibly intense focus on Merlin's face, as he is clearly manipulating the very matter around him. Meanwhile "Jack," aka "Merlin's Apprentice," on the left looks more like he's doing his best Luke Skywalker impression—

A: Which is convenient since they share a similar fate...that guy's his dad!!!

H: Yeah, so we might as well say that this post has a few minor spoilers. But please, don't let that scare you away ... this isn't going to be getting any two thumbs up any time soon.

A: Also, be assured that you wouldn't watch this movie for its plot anyway. You'd watch it to laugh and quote it for weeks. Years!

H: I almost don't know where to begin.

A: Just the beginning, when Jack is introduced. When that pig pops out of nowhere and Jack's like, "Oh, Pig, are you following me?"

H: Take it completely seriously, though. Because that Pig plays a huge, huge role later on. Wow.

A: You just got introduced to one of the characters ... that helps Jack get to the Land of the Dead.

H: Not to mention providing one of the all-time weirdest innuendos I've ever heard onscreen.

A: Which was also the last line of the entire 3-hour movie. ALAS! Then, after watching hours of bad wizards (and by bad, I don't mean evil) we thought we'd counteract that by spending some time with our favorite wizard, Gandalf, and his friends.

H: I feel like I don't have much to say about the game, except that it's good to know that my geeky middle school years are being put to good use—

A: Or that it's the best game ever and narrated by Gollum.

H: True. So all this to say, we hugely recommend that you pick up "Merlin's Apprentice" at your nearest Wal-Mart $5.00 bin, and watch it with your friends. Just for the laughs.

A: And following that, play Lord of the Rings Trivial Pursuit. It'll be a night to remember.

Flashforward 1.01 Review

A: Looking back ... on Flashforward.

H: Huge potential. I love it.

A: Okay, let's review/comment on the pilot episode. (Spoilers ahead) You say you love it. Why?

H: I mean, I wasn't crying or laughing out loud or anything, I just see a lot of potential in the storylines they've started. A lot was pretty much straight out of the trailer, so at first I wasn't surprised by much ... but they brought in some great twists near the end. That security camera thing? Creeeeeeeepy.

A: Agreed. I think that was the only part that gave me any emotional attachment to the show. Other reviewers are commenting on the fact that it is a lot like LOST. But there aren't any real connections that I can see except they're both from ABC and they use some of the same actors.

H: Whoa, whoa. I beg to differ. A giant "Oceanic" billboard in the background for like 25 seconds? Plus the whole "can we change our destinies?" theme? I don't think Flashforward is too similar to LOST, but I'm happy it has some similarities. I love LOST, and I feel like Flashforward is LOST's mild-mannered younger brother.

A: You're right, I was just talking about technical things like directors and stuff.

H: Oh, OKAY. Sorry, I don't do that whole technical thing, ADRIENNE.

A: Whatever. But on your note ... anyone see that kangaroo boundin' down the street?? Polar bear in LOST, anyone? OH oh! Here's a theory... maybe a car crashed into a fence at the zoo and it was the kangaroo's cage. Yeah?

H: I'm having a hard time deciding if you're being really sarcastic or really uncreative. Change of subject: my one big complaint for the episode was that slow-mo running shot—you know the one?

A: No... but you're talking to the person who totally missed the "25-second" shot of the Oceanic billboard. All I noticed is that Charlie...oops, I mean Dominic Monaghan showed up in the trailer for next week. By the way, do you think that was a trailer for multiple episodes or just this week's? Because there was a crazy load of stuff going on.

H: Multiple episodes. I didn't see the whole trailer—kind of ran into the other room when I got kicked out of the lounge for The Office—but I know Simon (Monaghan) isn't supposed to show up for a few more episodes.

A: WHAT? Dude, that's like the main reason I'm watching this show.

H: Remember the Entertainment issue I picked up while you were browsing through the hummus?

A: You mean while I was holding freaking everything while you went to the front of the store with the cart to read magazines?! But yes, I do remember squealing over pictures of the cast when we got back.

H: Anyway. It said Dom's character is some kind of super genius who graduated from college at 14 and that he won't show up for a while. I think there was a quote that went something like, "Charlie was a boy. Simon's a man" or something cheesy like that.

A: Speaking of cheesy...you're on first name basis with "Dom" now?

H: Hey, I went through that watch-behind-the-scenes-features-on-Lord-of-the-Rings stage in junior high too, you know. But you didn't see me strutting around in a Meriadoc Brandybuck costume come Halloween.

A: Oh my gosh, we always talk about Lord of the Rings. And Jimmy Fallon. But SPEAKING of connecting Flashforward with a past obsession, Hannah has one of her own... care to elaborate?

H: Well, I assume you're referring to the Jack Davenport Factor, aka, the part of the episode where we all think "Hmm. I haven't heard that velvety voice since Kiera gave the kiss of death to the greatest Pirates of the Caribbean character in the franchise." At least, that's what I was thinking.

A: And I assume you're referring to the part where the hospital boy's dad shows up and we recognize him not only as the doctor's future lover, but Commodore Norrington!?

H: Yeah, I'm not super excited about the first title, there, but I'm excited for him to be on the show. Actually, I'm pretty excited about this whole cast. And I'm hoping John Cho doesn't bow out too soon—I was nervous he would get the axe in the first episode.

A: Yeah, I'm excited about the cast as well; it's a good one. But overall I wasn't super impressed with the first episode. I do want to continue watching it as well because I see the potential. I just felt like I had already seen the first episode because of all the previews.

H: Good point. And, audience at home, here's hoping you're watching with us. More reviews to come.

A: We'll pick back up with what we promised in our previous post: Nerd movie night complete with made-for-TV movies and Lord of the Rings Trivial Pursuit.

The Top 10 Reasons (Anton Yelchin Edition)

A: He's the man/boy you've never heard of, but if you're into blockbuster movies, you've seen his face twice this summer. Ladies and gentleman: we give you Anton Yelchin. Our summer crush.

H: So much to say ... I hardly know how to begin. I think it's time for a Top Ten List.

Top Ten Reasons We Are in Love With Anton Yelchin

A: #1. He looks surprisingly like Elijah Wood.

H: #2. Chekov. Just the entire character. Talk about taking a completely lame and irritating person and turning him into pure greatness. I'm pretty sure you and I whisper-screamed through all of his dialogue. It's the accent. Plus the hair. Plus that scene where he ran down the hall. Ok, your turn.

A: #3. I'm going to just add to that: his little weather report when they first get on the ship. His accent saying "lightning cloud".... awwwww. Okay, we sound gross. And annoying. But seriously, we've got to point out Chekov, because this role is what put him on the map. I mean for us.

H: #4. This.

A: #5. Unbeknownst to us, Anton was sort of on the map already with his role as Charlie Bartlett in uhh... Charlie Bartlett THE MOVIE. I don't know him at all, obviously, but I kind of feel like this character is how he would be. I don't want to use the word "sweet," but that's the epitome of his personality as Charlie Bartlett—and he has insane outbursts that are hilarious. (See #4)

H: #6. He's not well-known. Call me a snob, or a weirdy, but I don't like to like people everyone likes. I mean, I don't want to be one of those people that only likes obscure music and calls everything "overrated," but when it comes to actors I totally am that person.

A: #7. He's a Shiny Shower Boy. My roommate made up this term, and it's definitely true. You know those guys who have shiny, pale-ish skin and they're rosy pink like they just came out of the shower? They look like any 5 year old boy who just had bath time.

H: #8. On that note, he was the cutest little kid EVER. And he was born ten days before I was.

A: #9. Hannah and I both agree that when really pretty boys get dirty, it's attractive. Dirty as in, they have mud on their face, or they just got punched. Not in a sleazy way. Therefore—another character reference—I feel that Anton really stepped it up in Terminator: Salvation and became a character that he isn't known for: tough, manly, and dirty. (Although Anton was great, the movie ... not so much.)

H: #10. He has a nice persona. I mean, look at this interview. "That filled me with joy every day"?!?? Ok, like you said, we totally don't know him (someday...) but what I'm saying is, he presents a nice image. Just likable. You want to introduce him to your mom.

A: Hopefully in the future we'll have more Top Ten Lists of other things, and we'll hopefully stray away from talking about our celebrity crushes all the time. Elijah Wood Johnny Depp Rufus Wainwright Justin Long Liam Neeson Alan Rickman Billy Cudrup Jason Schwartzman Adrian Brody Jimmy Fallon Dominic Monaghan David Wenham Lee Pace—

H: Paul Bettany Ben Foster Ioan Gruffudd James MacAvoy Henry Ian Cusack Clive Owen Joel Hodgson Alan Tudyk Stephen Cobert Russell Crowe Neil Patrick Harris Matt Damon Simon Woods Gregory Peck and Conan O'Brian. ... Well, that that's over with ... Moving on. Can we please talk about our Nerd Fest the other night?

A: The one where we watched made-for-tv movies and played LOTR trivia? Or the one where we took an hour and a half to blog about Anton Yelchin? Oh, wait, that was right now. Coming up next: made-for-tv movies and LOTR trivia! Back to you, Terry.